Apparatus for treating paraffin



Aug. 15, 1933. v MACQMBEHR I 1,922,382

APPARATUS FOR TREATING PARAFFIN I Filed Aug. 4, 1930 1 [N VN TOR ,4 6WD" f7. Maw/MW Patented Aug. 15, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE V 3 1,922,382 I v APPARATUS FOR TREATING PARAFF IN Lewis Macomber, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Application August 4, 1930. Serial No. 472,997 r 10 Claims. (01. 100-50) The main objects of this invention are: 1

First, to provide an apparatus for treating paraffin by the cold press process, to facilitate the removal of oils and soft or amorphous waxes.

Second, to provide anapparatus for this purpose which is of large capacity and very substantially reduces labor and waste incident to methods now commonly employed for the purpose.

Third, to provide an apparatus having these advantages which occupies comparatively little space, notwithstanding that it is of large capacity.

Objects'pertaining to details and economies of my invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in I the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which;

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of an apparatus embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Theembodiment of my invention illustrated comprises'a vertically disposed cylindrical filter chamber lhaving a for-aminate wall portion '2. This foraminate wall portion extends in practice a substantial portion of the length of the chamber. The filter chamber preferably has a comparatively slight upward taper,the purpose of which will appear as the description proceeds.

This filter chamber is mounted on a supporting frame 3, and projects through the deck or floor 4.

clamping nuts 10. In order that the gate may swing clear to permit discharging the load, I provide a projecting hinge arm ll having an inclined slot 111 therein which'is engaged by pin.1l2 on the hinge arm 113' on the gate. This allows the gate to move vertically into clamping engagement with the gasket 114 on the lower end of the filter chamber. To assist in closing the gate I provide a winch 115 for the cable 116 connected to the gate opposite its hinge.

cable 30 to the plunger. This cable runs through .a curved guide 31 on the upper end of the cylin der.

jacket '16 which terminates short of its lower end soas not to obstruct the manipulation of the gate. This drain jacket is disposed concentrically relative to the filter chamber and is provided with a discharge pipe 1'7 at its lower end.

Ifpreferably provide a heating coil 18 within the lower end of the drain chamber, the purpose of which is to prevent solidifying of the oils and soft or amorphouswaxes which are discharged by the means hereafterdesoribe'df The-steam is supplied to the coil 18 by meansof the pipes 19 and 20, the pipe 19 being valved and connected tothe steam pipe 21. This pipe 21 is connected to the drain jacket by means of the valved pipe 22 so that, if desired, steam may be admitted to the drain jacket to free the wax from the walls thereof and facilitate its discharge through the" gate.

The plunger cylinder 23 is of substantially the 8 same diameter. as the upper end of the filter chamber and is mounted thereon constituting an extension therefor. This plunger cylinder has a valved charging connection 24 through which the wax to be treated in a semi-solid state may be forced under pressure. The downward stroke of the plunger 25 is limited by the stop 26 positioned-above the charging connection 24.

The plunger is provided with an annular groove 27 which may be engaged by the locking screw or detent 28 adapted to hold the plunger in its upper or fully retracted position.

, To indicate the position of the plunger I preferably provide an indicator 29conr'1ectedbythe The actuating fluid such as air under pressure is admitted to the cylinder at its upper end through the pipe 32 and at its lower end through .105 the pipe 33, which pipes are connected to the, supply pipe 34 "through the three-way valve 35 The wax to be'treated, however, may be and preferablyis employed for returning the plunger to its retracted position, so it would only be neces- 110 I through the cock ;3 5

asmay be desired.

sary to employ the actuating fluid connection 32. While I have for convenience illustrated the steam pipe as opening to the jacket at only three points, it should be pointed out that in practice it is desirable to admit steam at several uniformly-spaced points about the jacket so that there is a uniform heating.

In operation the paraiiln wax to be treated for the removal ofoils and soft amorphous waxes-is heated and ligroin orpetroleum ethers in suitable quantities added thereto. After thoroughly mixing the mixture is cooled preferably by being subjected to a refrigerating machine or appa-.

ratus, and when in a crystalline condition is forced into the filtering apparatus through the connection 24. When fully charged the, plunger.

is actuated under high pressure which forces the solvent oils and amorphous waxes from the paraffin body into the filter or drain chamber. 7 It is very important to secure the best results that the, pressing operation occur when the .wax is in a crystalline condition, and it is very desirable to use a refrigerating means for cooling, as the coolingpf a large masscan be more readily accomplished and controlled.

The heatingcoil inthe bottom of the drain chamber does not materially raise the temperature of the. wax which is being treated,.but pre' vents clogging of the lower part of the drain chamber by, solidifying of the waxes therein.

After the oil charged. solvent has .beenforced fromrthe .body of the wax beingtreated, the discharge gate is opened and steam is admitted toithe. drain chamber, whichwill slightly warm or,melt the surface of thebody of wax so that it is freed from the, walls of the filter chamber.

Owing to these walls I being downwardly-expanded the treated mass is quickly discharged by air Pressure admitted in front of the piston This makes, possible a very rapid operation of the device, which. is 'not only of large;.-capacity but very ,efiicient in the removal (of objectionable matter.

. -While the apparatus illustrated is designed for-treating paraffin wax, it may be adapted for treatment of other materials. I have :not illus--,

trat-fidor' described suchv embodiments, as, it is believed this disclosure will enable] those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements.

Having thus described my inventioniwhat I claim ,as newv and desire ,ilO, secure by Letters Patent isz.

l ln anapparatus of the class described, the

combination of a vertically disposed cylindrical foraminated filter chamber provided with a .dis-.,

charge gate at its lower endsaidchamber being expanded downwardly, said gate being of .the full area of the chambena tubular fabric lining for said, filter chamber disposed in supportingengagementwith the wall thereof and secured at its upper end to thefilter chamber wall, a concentrically.. disposed drain jacket surrounding said-filter chamber and terminating above its saidgate,=said drain jacket having a discharge,

at its lower end, heating means disposed within said drain jacket adjacent its lower end, a valved means for supplying a heating medium-to saiddrainjacket, avertically disposed plunger cylinder of substantially the same diameter as said,

filter chamber opening to the upper end thereof, a valved charging connection to the lower end ofjsaid plunger cylinder, a plunger within said cylinder, and conections for supplying plunger;-

actuat'ing fluid .to said plunger cylinder, '1

filter chamber, and er cylinder. A

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the

combination of a vertically disposed cylindrical foraminated filter chamber provided with a dis- 7 plunger within said cylinder, and connections for supplying plunger actuating fluid to said plunger cylinder.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of -a verticaily' disposed foraminated filter chamber provided with-a 'discharge'gate at its lowerend, a fabric lining for saidfilter chamber, adrain jacket surrounding said-filter cham her and terminating above its-said gate, heating means disposed within said drain jacket, a valvedmeans for supplying a heating mediumto-said'" drain jacket, a vertically disposed plunger cyl inder opening to the upper end of said filter chamber, avalved charging connection to thelower end of: said plunger cylinder, a plunger within said: cylinder, and connections fo'r 'sup plying plunger actuating fiuid to said--plungercylinder. 1 I r 4; In an apparatus of the class described;'-'thecombination-of afilter chamber having foraminated .walls: and provided with a discharge gate at one end, a drain jacket surrounding said filterchamber, means for supplying heat-tojsaid filter chamber, a fabric lining for said filter chamber,-

a plunger cylinder opening to said filter cham ber, a charging connection opening to said lungrer cylinder adjacent said filter chamber, and a plunger within saidplunger cylinder.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the-1 combination of a filter chamber having foramihated walls-and providedwith a discharge gate at oneueud of the full area of the cylinder said fromits discharge gate, a fabriclining for saidfilter chamber having a relatively slight taper filter chamber; a plunger cylinderopening tosaid filter'chamber and ofa diametersubstantially. the same as that of the. filter chamben-a charging connection opening tosaid plunger cylinder, adjacent said filter chamber, and a plunger within said plunger cylinder 6. In an apparatus for treating parafiiri-of the class described, the combination of a filter chamher-having foraminated walls and provided with a discharge gate at one end, a drainjacket sur rounding said filter chamber, a fabric lining for to-said-filter chamber, a charging connection opening to said plunger cylinder adjacentsaid a plunger within: said-plungsaid filter, chamber, a plunger cylinder opening '7.,-In an apparatus of the class.described;-thecombinationiof a'filter chamber=tapered--toward i one end and havinga foraminated wall andpro- .videdwith'a discharge gate at itslargerend, a

rfabric-liningjfor 'the. saidforaminate wall, a

plunger; cylinder opening to the smaller end of" said filter chamber, a plunger within said plung er cylinder,;meansfor supplying actuating fluidto said plunger cylinder, :a charging connection in communication with the smaller end of said filter chamber and with said plunger cylinder beyond the in-stroke of the plunger whereby the material to be filtered may be employed to return the plunger, and a drain jacket for the foraminate portion of the walls of said filter chamber and constituting a heating fluid chamber.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a filter chamber tapered toward one end and having a foraminated wall and provided with a discharge gate at its larger end, a fabric lining for the said foraminate wall, a plunger cylinder opening to the smaller end of said filter chamber, a plunger within said plunger cylinder, means for supplying actuating fluid to said plunger cylinder, and a charging connection in communication with the smaller end of said filter chamber and with said plunger cylinder beyond the in-stroke of the plunger whereby the material to be filtered may be employed to return the plunger.

9. In an apparatus for treating paraflin of the class described, the combination of a conical filter er cylinder, a charging connection for said filter' LEWIS H. MAcoMBER. 

